Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya took everyone by surprise when he rolled his hands in the second ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Incidentally, Pandya two days back said that he will take his sweet time to resume bowling with important series lined up next year.
Meanwhile, with Hardik Pandya, not bowling, India struggled badly in the first ODI due to the lack of sixth bowling option. Skipper Virat Kohli had to persist with his regular bowlers despite going for plenty. It continued in the second game as the likes of David Warner, Aaron Finch, and Steve Smith toiled with Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Hardik Pandya resumes bowling
At a time when the Indian team is looking for their sixth bowler in the ongoing three-match One Day International (ODI) series against hosts Australia, Hardik Pandya opted to act as reinforcement by spearheading the bowling attack of the visitors in the 2nd ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Also Read: Watch – Aaron Finch And KL Rahul Engage In Friendly Banter During The 2nd ODI
Although he was slow and bowled with a revamped action, the all-rounder from Baroda was right on the money. He also broke the deadly partnership removing Steve Smith after a well made century. Pandya’s figure reads one for 24 from four overs.
Soon after he ran down the pitch, fans were in awe of Hardik Pandya as they showered praise on the ace all-rounder. They took to microblogging site Twitter to praise the youngster as Pandya returned to the game as al all-rounder.
Here is the Twitter reactions:
The disrespect Hardik Pandya gets from everywhere is totally harsh – take only his batting, India don't have replacement right now in the pool and he is bowling when team is under trouble with back issues and taking the wicket of Smith. The MVP of India as all-rounder.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 29, 2020
Hardik Pandya fighting for India despite being injured. #AusvsInd pic.twitter.com/nR3llebudC
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) November 29, 2020
✔️ He can bowl
✔️ He can bat
✔️ He can field
✔️ Looks like he can also read a newspaper during a match! 📰Hardik Pandya, an all-rounder! pic.twitter.com/NilhEVX1XR
— ICC (@ICC) November 29, 2020
This is just a Hardik Pandya appreciation tweet. Top guy! About time the general perception about him changes. 🙌🏼👏🏼
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets) November 29, 2020
Hardik Pandya who's bowling after 16 months has got the wicket of Steven Smith, man who looked invincible. Many questioned Hardik's commitment for India on why he plays for Mumbai Indians, but misses out for India. Now got the wicket even when he was not supposed to bowl.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 29, 2020
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Meanwhile, speaking at the end of the first game, Hardik Pandya has made it clear that he is not likely to bowl any time soon. One of the reasons behind the decision is the successive T20 World Cups in the next two years.
“It is a process,” Hardik Pandya said when asked where he was with respect to a return to bowling. “I am looking at a long-term goal where I want to be 100% of my bowling capacity for the most important games. The World Cups are coming. More crucial series are coming.
“I am thinking as a long-term plan, not short-term where I exhaust myself and maybe have something else [injury] which is not there. So it is going to be a process, which I am following. I can’t tell you exactly when I am going to bowl but the process is going on,” he added.